Editor,
Through your newspaper I wish to draw the attention of the higher officials of the Police Department regarding the malpractices of some policemen who are a slur on the department. On December 31, 2011, I was on my way to Tura from Guwahati on a Tata Sumo vehicle accompanied by three other passengers. On reaching near Jenjal Beat House all the Sumo vehicles (four in number) including the one we were traveling on were stopped by some CRPF personnel for checking the passengers and their belongings. Meanwhile the drivers of the vehicles were called by the officer-in-charge of the Beat House (name not known) to his chamber and were asked to produce their vehicle’s documents and their driving licenses. The documents and related paper’s were all in order but each driver was literally forced to pay Rs 500. The officer in charge said that the money would be a donation for the police to celebrate New Year. The drivers pleaded with the officer- in-charge saying that they hardly had three or four passengers on account of new year’s eve and the money they collected from the passenger’s (after paying the Travel Agent’s commission) is hardly enough for the diesel required for the vehicle to reach from Guwahati to Tura. It was disheartening to hear one of the drivers saying that the owner of the vehicle will not believe that Rs 500 was paid to the police officer. The driver said ultimately he would have to shell out the money from his own pocket.
The Government deputes these police officers and men to do their duty for the interest and the security of the public but here is a case of daylight robbery from poor drivers. How can the society be safe and secure when such thugs are the guardians of the law who in the guise of uniforms never skip a chance to loot the public?
I, on behalf of all those who are victimized by these sort of police officers and men request the concerned authority to book the officer in-charge of the concerned Beat House under relevant sections of the law and punish him accordingly, thereby setting an example so that no other police personnel in future will ever dare to indulge in such activities again and defame the entire Department.
Yours etc.,
Brayan T Sangma.,
Via email
Perennial eyesore of Laban
Editor,
Apropos Rajib Roy’s report titled “Wettest road in city” appearing in “Your Neighborhood” page (ST December 27, 2011) I fully agree with Roy’s observations and findings. The narrow and shallow drain along the busy road from St John’s Church, Laban to a road junction leading to Last Stop is in a deplorable condition. There is heavy blockage throughout. For over a decade, this eroded corridor of traffic has served both as a road and a drain of perennial seepage causing immeasurable inconveniences to a host of passers-by which include students and the teaching community, the church-goers and the general public on their way to and from markets and places of work.
On a number of occasions, the pedestrians or the church-goers in their Sunday attire had been caught unawares by speeding cars whose spinning wheels splashed water on their person or dresses making them soaking wet. In dry seasons we pray for showers of blessing. But the showers sprayed by the speeding and spinning wheels turned out to be showers of curses leading to heated arguments and bitter feelings even if this happened to take place on a Sunday morning or evening, a day where lips are supposed to be free from uttering a curse.
This road-drain of unhygienic and harmful elements is an eyesore of Laban. It is an irony that this eyesore is found right at the doorsteps of a temple of learning and the temple of worship. It is also a tragedy that those who could do something appear to turn a
blind eye and a deaf ear to the decadal crying need for removal of this shame.
When will the authorities concerned wake up? When will they be up and doing?
Yours etc.
AW Khonglam
Shillong – 4